Arsenal keen on Karim Benzema but Real Madrid do not want to ...

Wenger tried to sign Benzema in 2013, when the striker was their primary target before they were offered Mesut Ozil but failed then. 

And it is understood that Benzema, 27, is one of President Florentino Perez’s favourite players and therefore extremely unlikely to be sold.

Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez would only countenance his sale if an equivalent standard striker, such as Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, could be signed and that isn’t on Real’s agenda at present.

Arsenal have not ruled out the possibility of bringing in a striker to supplement their squad in the five weeks of the transfer window but given that Benzema is not available their assessment is that there are very few strikers of that quality around.

Wenger has ruled out a move for Gonzalo Higuain, who wants to leave Napoli. Likewise, Wenger had the opportunity to sign the striker in 2013 and turned it down and is unlikely to change his mind now.

It is more likely that Wenger will use Theo Walcott at centre forward to supplement Olivier Giroud. Alexis Sanchez’s success at the coming in from the left and scoring means that he will primarily play in that position but if Danny Welbeck’s knee injury doesn’t improve, Wenger have had to re-think his transfer strategy once the season is underway.

(dailymail.co.uk)